Jury finds man guilty in Charlotte County teen’s murder

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PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla.- One of the men accused of killing a Charlotte County teenager 14 years ago has been found guilty of first-degree murder.

Phillip Barr was sentenced to life in prison without parole on Wednesday for the murder of 19-year-old Tara Sidarovich.

Sidarovich disappeared on Oct. 1, 2001 while she was home alone, waiting for septic workers.

Deputies found her remains in the woods nine months later but it took authorities 11 years to make an arrest in the case.

Sidarovich’s mother, Sharon McPhillips, was in court on Wednesday awaiting the verdict.

“This has impacted our life for the past 14 years in a way that I can’t even begin to describe, of every day of wakening, and every night of closing my eyes. We just miss her so much and we are just very happy that justice has been served,” said McPhillips.

It took the jury 90 minutes to come up with the verdict; Barr showed no emotion while it was read.

David McMannis, Barr’s work partner, is also charged in Sidarovich’s death.

 

 

 

 

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